Les Miserables

“There is always more misery among the lower classes than there is humanity in the higher.”
―Victor Hugo

Les Miserables

by Carmen H Gray

I stepped into the bright and hygienic restroom

In Saver’s

And there she was

Young and sad

Arms full with bags

A soiled backpack

Shamefaced

Because of the extra girth

Of her life’s possessions

And having used this public place

Of releasing waste

For cleaning herself in peace

I stepped into the stall

And found in my purse

A crumpled note

I’d written to myself

“You are worth it”

Along with five dollars

“Hey”

Was all I could manage to say

And I handed it to her

And stepped back into the stall

Shamefaced

That I complained

About anything today